8 Great Day Trips from Ho Chi Minh City

22, March, 2018

If you are planning a stay in the bustling centre of Ho Chi Minh City, you will certainly find plenty of things to see and do. But, if you would like to experience the more enriching travel experience, there are plenty more unique places to visit on the outskirts of the city.

Let's take a look a few of the most appealing day-trip destinations from Ho Chi Minh City:

Cu Chi TunnelsThe Chi Chi Tunnels are a standout display of Vietnamese spirit and ingenuity. The tunnels consist of a fascinating underground network that stretches for nearly 250 km and used at the time of the French occupation and the Vietnam War. The tunnels acted as a safe haven for many people. Today, there are certain sections that have been made safe for tourists to explore. A look at these short sections of tunnels make it possible to get a little experience of what it was like to live underground. The tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels is approx a two hour journey from Ho Chi Minh City.

Mekong DeltaThe Mekong Delta is a vast space that is interspersed with entire village communities that live life on many of the surrounding small islands. The local scenery is quite stunning and gives tourists on the tours of Vietnam a perfect opportunity to see a drastically different lifestyle from that in the city. The Mekong Delta is based on rural and agricultural life. The journey time to reach this part of Vietnam is about two hours by vehicle. A short day-trip is enough time to explore several of the closer islands, but the more in-depth view of the region; it can certainly benefit to spend at least two or three days in the region. A stay in a homestay for the night can further help to enhance the most authentic travel experience.

Cai Be Floating MarketWhile in the region of the Mekong Delta on the Vietnam family holiday, it is worth exploring a few of the famous floating markets. A visit to the Cai Be floating market is a great option if you are only planning to spend a day in the region. Other markets like Cai Rang are more famous, but there may not be enough time to fully explore on a short day-trip. Cai Be has a very lively and bustling atmosphere that gives first-hand experience of buying and selling on the river. This market is located in Tien Giang province and the journey time to reach this part of Vietnam's green, lush countryside is in the region of three hours.

Can Gio Mangrove ForestCan Gio Mangrove Forest is unlike typical forest landscape that most of us know. Can Gio is basically a wetland with the trees located in a region of rivers and swamp land. This forest region is estimated to be 2,000 years old and it is a natural environment for nearly 200 types of fauna and flora. There are plenty of opportunities to sign up for an eco-adventure tour on the package holidays to Vietnam that makes it possible to get a real in-depth view of the region. Can Gio Mangrove Forest is about 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City and easily reached by bus, car or other vehicle. A day trip to this forest is certain to give an entirely different perspective on Vietnam to give views of its stunning landscape away from the city.

Ben TreBen Tre is a small town in the region of the Mekong Delta that lets travellers witness the real life of local Vietnamese people. This region is famous for its coconuts which is what the majority of the locals make their living from. A tour of this region on a day trip makes it possible to appreciate the many types of coconuts and the different uses. For instance, the coconut can be transformed into a variety of products, such as fashion accessories, sophisticated handicraft souvenirs, doormats, baskets, oil and candy. Plus, there are plenty of fascinating stops en route to Ben Tre to satisfy the traveller’s curiosity.

Dai Nam Amusement ParkThe Dai Nam Amusement Park isn't a place of cultural significance to visit on the Vietnam holiday, but a great day trip for adults and children alike. It is home to the largest artificial sea in SE Asia and Vietnam's first safari park. This amusement park covers a vast area with plenty of attractions to amuse everyone. The park is located approx 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City, which means it is relatively easy to reach with a car journey taking about two hours.

Vung TauVung Tau is a practical destination for a short visit to a beach. This city is about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City and even though it may not have the finest beachfront, the closeness to Ho Chi Minh City makes it a very appealing weekend retreat for beach lovers. Also, it has plenty of stunning sightseeing spots nearby that make it very appealing for tourists. A few of the popular attractions include well-known Buddhist pagodas, the Whale Temple, the White Palace, and the Jesus Christ Statue. The most convenient travel option is via bus, which has a direct route from Ho Chi Minh City.

Ba Den MountainLocated in Tay Ninh province, the Ba Den Mountain is a wonderful off-the-beaten-track destination that is a great day trip destination for the adventurous travellers that like to get involved with trekking. Ba Den is about 100 km from Ho Chi Minh City and at a height of 986 metres it is the highest mountain in the SE of Vietnam. It is a popular destination for not only its beautiful natural scenery, but also its sacred Buddhist temples. Plus, it is a great spot for trekking with a quite challenging route that lets visitors conquer the summit. The journey to the mountain is easily achieved by bus or motorbike for the more independent travel option.